Special to the Leader & Times
The 2025 USAWKS Freestyle and Greco State Wrestling Tournament was held in Park City May 3 and 4. Liberal Wrestling Club took 10 wrestlers to compete.
All girls and younger boys competed Saturday with the older boys competing Sunday. Greco was first on both days with Freestyle following.
Isabela Gutierrez and Hayleen Martinez are both Greco State champions.
“This was Bela’s first competition for Greco,” coach Krista Holcomb said. “She was a little hesitant to do it but decided to give it a try. I am so happy that she did, and I think she is too.”
Those that place high enough will be given the opportunity to compete at the Fargo competition this summer. They also are given the opportunity to be on the Kansas National Duals team. Both Martinez and Gutierrez will be given that opportunity.
Greco Results
Iovani Chavez, DNP, two pins; Adriel Gomez, DNP, three tech falls; Esteban Gomez, second, one pin; Isabela Gutierrez, first, three pins; Alyvia Holcomb, third; Elias Holcomb, DNP; Ian Holcomb, DNP; Hayleen Martinez, first.
Martinez also competed in the Freestyle competition Saturday. She took first and is once again the 190-pound girls freestyle state champion.
“Hayleen sets her eyes on what she wants and gets just that,” Holcomb said. “She is focused and determined when it comes to stepping on the mat. She is a two-time state champ for high school folkstyle and now a two-time state champ for Greco and Freestyle. That is quite a list of accomplishments, especially for someone who has only wrestled a few years,”
Freestyle Results
Brian Casas, DNP, one tech fall and one pin; Iovani Chavez, DNP; Adriel Gomez, DNP, one tech fall and a five-point throw; Esteban Gomez, third, one pin; Isabela Gutierrez, second, one tech fall and two pins; Alyvia Holcomb, fourth; Elias Holcomb, DNP; Ian Holcomb, DNP; Marco Jimenez, fourth, one pin; Hayleen Martinez, first, two pins.
This tournament gave out special poker chips for anyone who landed a five-point throw. In Freestyle, a five-point throw involves a “grand amplitude” throw, where the wrestler lifts their opponent off the ground and controls them, making them describe a sweeping curve in the air, before landing them in a position of immediate danger of being pinned. Earning a chip from Liberal Wrestling Club was Adriel Gomez.
“It was a beautiful throw,” Holcomb said. “He felt where he was at and knew he could land it. AC has a lot of control and power when it comes to Freestyle and Greco. It has been great to watch him during these styles the last few years.”
